Whiteout — He said, She said — movie review
He Said
If you can believe Kate Beckinsale as a US Marshall, you can believe anything this film throws at you. Whiteout sees a serial-killer mystery played out against the backdrop of the international research station at the South Pole. Essentially, someone starts picking off scientists, and Beckinsale must find the culprit before they’re snowed in for winter. We expected a bit more of a horror vibe, due to its Dark Castle pedigree, but for the most part it was decently satisfying. The murders are semi-slasher fare, the investigations more CSI (complete with extra cheesy exposition). Apparently this film was an adaptation of a graphic novel, but aside from a brief segment of blatant fan servicing at the start, there was nothing that seemed particularly graphic-novel-y. The cinematography is pretty decent though, and the snowy landscapes never failed to amaze. Whiteout isn’t anything you’ll remember too far down the line, but it does the job for a Saturday evening.
She Said
Saturday evening, huh? Sorry, I’d say Wednesday night rental. If you’re a Kate Beckinsale fan, I think you’ll probably be disappointed by her bulky attire (well, it is Antartica) and frumpy bowl-ish bob. If you’re not a fan, you’ll cringe at her acting. There’s one scene where a surprise character is introduced (who wins the “blatantly copying gravelly Christian Bale voice” award) and their banter is oddly simultaneously soap-opera over-the-top and blankly unemotional.
When Kate Beckinsale is not talking, however, is when she is at her best. Like in Underworld, between “gliding” and getting a walloping, there’s actual realism in revealing how someone with her frail frame can be bendy but still be broken. Whiteout’s strength is building upon those moments where she is her most vulnerable for some slight suspense. Its weaknesses, however, unfortunately include a surplus of superfluous flashbacks, misplaced sexual tension without the tension nor the sexiness, and a slippery explanation for its mystery maniac.
This was better than I thought it’d be, but I thought it’d be awful. Oh, and the trailers made it look like a supernatural presence was the villain, but it’s just good ‘ol homicidal fun.
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